Filter cleaning process and apparatuses

ABSTRACT

A process organized to successively apply a jet of cleansing liquid to the exterior surface of each successive portion of a complex-shaped thin-walled dirty-air-permeable air filter while the interior surface of that thin-walled portion is concurrently supported from collapse by the mechanical action of said jet.

United States Patent [72] Inventor Scott E. Neill, Jr.

1147 H St., Salida, Colo. 81201 [211 App]. No. 50,169 [22] Filed June26, 1970 a [45] Patented Sept. 28, 1971 Continuation-impart 01application Ser. No.

727,594, May 8, 1968, now Patent No. 3,526,237. [54] FILTER CLEANINGPROCESS AND APPARATUSES 3 Claims, 12 Drawing Figs. A [52] US. Cl. jv134/58, 134/10, 134/33, 134/99, 134/109, 134/138 134/141,l34/152 [51]Int. Cl B08b 3/02, B03b 1 1/00 [50] Field of Search 134/10, 33, 34, 58,99,102,109,l38,l40,141,143,152,153; 210/167 [56] References Cited UNITEDSTATES PATENTS 781,107 1/1905 Stewart 134/33 UX 2,178,701 11/1939 Petre134/33 2,615,456 10/1952 Galusha.... 134/140 2,699,793 1/1955 Buck etal. 134/143 2,756,455 7/ 1956 Slaughter 134/ l 53 X 2,919,704 1/1960Butler 134/102 3,088,391 5/1963- Sigler 134/153 X 3,089,167 5/1963 .Iahnet al... 134/22 UX 3,174,490 3/1965 Flarsheim 134/152 X 3,216,42911/1965 Dick 134/102 3,442,273 5/1969 Hanish et a1. 134/140 X FOREIGNPATENTS 525,249; 8/1940 Great Britain 134/141 Primary Examiner-Morris O.Wolk Assistant Examiner-Joseph T. Zatarga Attorney-Ely SilvermanABSTRACT: A process organized to successively apply a jet 1 of cleansingliquid to the exterior surface of each successive portion of acomplex-shaped thin-walled dirty-air-permeable air filter while theinterior surface of that thin-walled portion is concurrently supportedfrom collapse by the mechanical action of said jet.

PATENTEU SEP28 l97l SHEET 1 0F 6 SCOTT E. NE/LL JR.

INVENTOR.

ATTOPNF'Y Pmmtnsmsml 3608567 SHEET 2 OF 6 FIGS 2'8 I 25 AZ I ls SCOTT E.IVE/LL JR.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY PATENTED SEF28 ml SHEET 3 OF 6 SCOTT E. NE/LL JR.

INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY PATENTEU SEP2 8197i sum GUYS

/ IZA FIG. 12

INVENTOR.

JQZWM/ ATTORNEY CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This is acontinuation in part of my copending patent application Ser. No. 727,594filed May 8, 1968, now US. Pat. No. 3,526,237,dated Sept. 1, 1970.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The field of thisinvention is the application of liquid cleansing material to animplement having cavities and workhandling apparatus and process forsuch application.

2. Description of the Prior Art While air filters are necessary toprotect the mechanical parts of the internal combustion engines they arerequired to be sufficiently freely permeable to air and permit about 1cubic foot of air per second to pass therethrough to an automobilecarburetor. As such filters become clogged with debris they reduce theefficiency of the internal combustion engines (whether rotary orreciprocating piston) and the combustion efficiency of the averageautomotive engine is impaired, especially at high speed or acceleration,to the extent of a loss of efficiency of about 3 miles per gallon in acar usually performing at about 18 miles per gallon.

Cleansing of automotive air filters has been usually attempted byhand-held rapping and/or forceful but brief air blast with handmanipulation of the air filter during such manipulation: such air blastsare frequently so violent as to rupture the filter'element, such use ofair blast and mechanical rapping are not reliable and neither serves todislodge any but the most loosely held material. Replacement of cloggedfilters is the usual remedy. Other machines available for strainercleaning dependent upon flow of the cleansing solution through thefilter element (e.g. US. Pat. No. 2,170,081) increase the pore size ofthe element and, with an oleophyllic surface, as is developed in mostair filters, the use of water is ineffective and oil cleansing requiresimpractical pressures.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION This invention provides a solution to theproblem of cleaning the outer surface of a filter wall, where most ofthe dirt and debris is located, by applying to the outer surface of athin dirty air filter wall a liquid jet of sufficient force to dislodgeand remove increments of dirt and debris from the outer surface of thatwall without causing any damage to that wall by providing mechanicalsupport to the complexly shaped inner surface of that thin wall, whilethe outer surface thereof is thus forcefully scrubbed, the jet strikingthe surface at an angle.

The liquor used is provided sufficient detergent action to loosen theincrements of dirt from the filter wall when used as a jet but notenough chemical activity to keep the dirt stably suspended. This resultsin that the liquor used to dislodge the debris and dirt from the filtersurface may be separated by the apparatus of this invention from suchdebris and dirt and be reused; this provides that no separate continuouswater addition facility and continuous dirty water drain is required.The apparatus are constructed to permit ready location, by the averagemember of the public, of a filter of any of a large variety of sizes andshapes in the apparatus and ready removal of the treated filter.

Further still, the apparatuses and process uses the operation of theinternal combustion engine in which the air filter is used to assist incompletely drying the treated filter: the structure of the apparatus andsteps of the process are adapted to the doit-yourself public thatpresently uses coin-operated machinery such as coin-operated automaticcar washes, automatic clothes washers and dryers and the like.

One object of this invention is to provide improved apparatuses forcleaning automobile air filters.

Another object of this invention is to provide an improved process forcleaning automobile air filters.

Other objects will become apparent to those skilled in the art on studyof the below description of apparatus and the hereto appended drawings,which drawings form a part of the description of apparatus and in whichdrawings the same referent numeral refers to the same part throughout.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. I is a partly broken away front view ofone embodiment of apparatus, 10, of this invention with work chamberdoor (36) and clarification chamber door.(38) open.

It is broken away along section lA-lB-lC-lD of FIG. 4.

FIG. 2 is a diagrammatic diametral vertical transverse section throughthe wash assembly 41 of the apparatus 10.

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic longitudinal view of the interior of theapparatus 10 piping and wiring and components.

FIG. 4 is a perspective top and front and side view of the exterior ofapparatus 10 with pump chamber door 37 open.

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic enlarged partly broken away perspective view ofportions of the filter 16, with the zones 5A and 5C thereof shown at agreater enlargement than is provided for the adjacent zones 5B and SD ofFIG. 5.

Table I gives dimensions and characteristics of components of oneembodiment of the apparatus 10.

FIG. 6 is a top view of another embodiment of apparatus, 210, accordingto this invention as seen from the front thereof which direction of viewis shown by the direction of arrow 6A of FIG. 7.

FIG. 7 is a top view of apparatus 210 as viewed along the direction ofthe arrow 7A of FIG. 6.

FIG. 8 is a front view of the apparatus 210 shown partiallydisassembled, i.e. with the rear, sidewall and front wall panel 221thereof removed to show the interior structure thereof.

FIG. 9 is a view of the apparatus shown in FIG. 8 as seen along thedirection of the arrow 9A of FIG. 8.

FIG. 10 is a view of the apparatus 210 as shown in FIG. 8 and alsobroken away in part to show details of the interior thereof; this viewis taken along the direction of the arrow 10A of FIG. 9.

FIG. 11 is an enlarged view of the zone 11A of FIG. 7 to show the filtersupport plate 245 and structures in the neighborhood thereof.

FIG. 12 is a diagrammatic vertical sectional view of the portion ofapparatus 210 shown in FIG. 10 along section 12A- 12A of FIG. 11.

FIGS. 6-11 are pictorial and hence to scale.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED-EMBODIMENT The apparatus 10 comprises, inoperative combination, a housing and frame assembly 12, a mechanismassembly 14 and a power source 18. An automobile car filter, 16, istreated by mechanism 14 and releasably held by part of the mechanism 14and part of the housing 12: power source 18 is operatively connected tothe mechanism assembly 14.

The assembly 12 is generally a rectangular box, the walls of which haveopenings, and closures for said openings and chambers within the box.Assembly 12 comprises a rigid vertical rectangular front flat wall 21, arigid vertical rectangular flat rear wall, 22, parallel to and the samesize as the front wall 21, a rigid vertical rectangular fiat exteriorleft wall 23, and a rigid vertical exterior rectangular flat right wall24, a flat rectangular top wall 25, and a rigid floor 26. The walls arefirmly jointed at their edges to form a hollow firm shell. The interiorof the assembly 12 is provided with a left interior vertical wall 27 anda right interior vertical wall 28; walls 27 and 28 are each fixed to thefront wall 21 and the rear wall 22 and provide for definition andseparation of chambers lateral thereto and therebetween. A rigidhorizontal wall 29 is located between the walls 21 and 22 and is firmlyfixed to the interior surfaces of walls 21 and 22 and 24 and to the topof wall 28.

A wash chamber 31 of assembly 12 is located between and bounded by thewalls 29, 24, 22 and 21. A pump chamber 32 of assembly 12 is locatedbelow the wall 29 and between walls 21, 22, 24 and 28 and is bounded bysuch walls; this pump chamber has various electrical timing elements anda pump therein. A liquid clarification chamber 33 of assembly 12 isbounded by walls 23, 22, 21 and 27. A rigid flat imperforate washchamber door, 36, is located in a matching opening 39 therefor in thetop wall and is hingedly affixed by hinges to the rear side of thatopening.

A rigid rectangular pump chamber door 37 is hingedly located in acorresponding rectangular hole 34 in the wall 24. A lock 37A is providedfor this chamber as coin collector 73 is located therein. Aclarification chamber door 38 is hingedly located in a correspondinghole 38A therefor on the top wall 25 and provides access to and closurefor the chamber 33.

The mechanism assembly 14 comprises a wash assembly 41, a clarificationassembly 51 and a control assembly 71.

In operation of the apparatus 10 an air filter 16 is located in the washassembly 41.

The filter 16 comprises an annular filter wall 121, an imperforateannular lower ring 123, an upper imperforate annular ring 125, an outerperforate expanded metal grid 127 and an inner rigid highly perforatedgrid 129. The wall 121 is formed of a very air-permeable porous yetsubstantially water-repellent water-impermeable paper which permits airto pass therethrough and catches dirt and dust particles mechanically aswell as by chemical absorption or absorption at the outer surface ofsuch material. The wall is formed in a series of similar radiallyextending vertical denticulated folds as 131,132,133,134,135,136,137,138 and 139. Folds 135-139 are shown enlarged inzone FIG. 58 to show details of the treated filter 16.

Each of folds as 131-139 of the filter wall 121 is firmly fixed at itstop and bottom edges to the top and bottom annular rings 125 and 123respectively. The surface of walls 127 and 129 are about 90 percentperforations or openings and 10 percent solid support element and arefirmly fixed at their top and bottom to rings 125 and 123; such ringsare usually (fl inches) 7 inches id. and 8 inches o.d. Each of the foldsas 131, 132, 133, 134 is formed similarly to folds 135-139. There is,for each of folds 135, 136, 137, 138, 139 a left side element 145, 146,147, 148 and 149 respectively and a right side element 155, 156, 157,158 and 159 respectively.

Each of the pairs of fold sides forming a fold as 145 and 146 encompassbetween them a narrow recess 165 open to the interior of the filter, thesimilar walls 146 and 156 bound an interior recess space 166 open on theinterior to the cylindrical space within the filter 16; similarly walls147 and 157 bound a similar recess space 167, walls 148 and 158 boundinterior recess space 168 and walls 149 and 159 bound an interior recessspace 169. Each of interior recess spaces 165, 166, 167, 168 and 169 aresimilar and are vertically elongated and have substantially the sameshape and size from the top to the bottom; at the top, ring 125 boundseach recess space: at the bottom, ring 123 bounds each recess space.Space 165 is separated from the exterior of the filter by the walls 145and 155: space 166 is cut off from the space exterior to filter 16 bythe walls 146 and 156 and correspondingly for spaces 167, 168 and 169.Each of the spaces 165, 166, 167 and 168 is quite thin, being aboutone-eighth inch (:tone thirty-second inch) wide and extending radiallythe full radial width of the annular portion of the ring of the filter,which is about 1 to 2 inches long, measured radially.

Between interior recess spaces 165 and 166 is located an exterior recessspace 175 open to the exterior of the filter; between interior recessspaces 166 and 167 is located an exterior recess space 176 open to theexterior of the filter; between interior recess spaces 167 and 168 islocated an exterior recess space 177 open to the exterior of the filter;between interior recess spaces 168 and 169 is located on exterior recessspace 178 open to the exterior of the filter. Each of the spaces 175,176, 177 and 178 is, in actual operation of the apparatus aboutone-eighth inch wide about 1 linch to 2 inches high and about 1 inch to2 inches deep and in the usual operation of used automotive air filters,filthy on its inside, as shown by accumulations 181, 182, 183 (on outersurfaces of walls 155 and 146) in 175; 186, 184, 185, in 176; 187, 188,189, in 177; and 190, 191, 192, in 178; to such an extent that even abright light is not visible therethrough.

Assembly 41 comprises a top late locator assembly 110 and a rotatablefilter support and wash assembly 150 and a rotatable filter driveassembly 152, cooperatively combined.

The rotatable filter support and wash assembly 150 comprises line 43,plate 45, pulley 90, wash lines as 81, 82, 83, and 84, and nozzles as141, 142, 143, and 144, in operative combination.

The assembly 150 comprises a centrifugal pump 42 with a rigid verticaloutlet line 43. The outlet line 43 feeds into hole 44 in the center of arotatable circular rigid fiat-topped imperforate (except for the hole)rotatable filter base 45 which serves to rotatably support the bottom ofan annular air filter as 16. The top edge of the filter 16 is covered byand supports a circular axially rotatable rigid flat bottomedimperforate filter cover plate 46. A drainboard 47 with a smooth flattop surface is continuous with and extends from the left-hand (as shownin FIG. 3) side of panel 29 to over the top of wall 27 and extends intothe top upper portion of clarification chamber 33. Assembly 150 alsocomprises plate 45 and nozzles 141-144.

The upper end of the line 43 is a rigid pipe; it is firmly located by abracket 88 therefor which bracket in turn is firmly supported by thehorizontal panel 29. The pipe 43 continues upward into a cylindricalbearing 100. The bearing 100 is formed of an outer cylindrical sleeveand race 101 and an inner cylindrical sleeve and race 102, sleeves 101and 102 are coaxial with each other and with the center of the line 43.Conventional roller bearings 103 are located between the sleeves andraces 101 and 102, a watertight annular cover plate 104 extends over thetop of elements 101, 102 and 103.

Line 43 from the pump 42 is provided with several lateral branch linesas 81, 82, 83 and 84; each branch line 81, 82, 83 and 84 has a nozzle141, 142, 143, and 144 respectively at its discharge end. Each of thesenozzles is located in chamber 31 in a position in a fiat horizontalcircle coaxially disposed about the center of plate 45 at equal heightsradially of plate 45 and equispaced apart from each other. Each nozzleis directed horizontally and centrally toward the upward projection ofthe central vertical axis of line 43 with which axis the centrallongitudinal axis of the annular filter 16 is also coaxial when locatedbetween plates 46 and 45.

Each nozzle as 141, is arranged so that its spray is about one-eightinch to one-fourth inch wide (i.e. about the same as the horizontallymeasured width of the recess which it usually treats) and 2 inches high.The filter drive assembly 152 comprises motor 91, its switch control 72,and pulleys 93, 94, and 90 and their belts. Electrical drive motor 91 isfirmly located on a bracket which is firmly fixed to rear wall 22. Ahorizontal rotatable pulley 93 is support by and attached to thevertical drive shaft 92 of the motor 91 and drives a rotatablehorizontal pulley 94 rotatably supported on a bracket 98, which bracket98 is firmly supported on the walls 21 and 22. The horizontal rotatablepulley 94 is connected by a vertical shaft 96 to a horizontally disposedrotatable pulley 95 thetop of which is at the level of the bottom of theplate 45. A lower plate pulley 90 is firmly fixed to the bottom of theplate 45 and to bearing 100. Pulley 90, the bottom plate 45, bearing 100and plate 46 are coaxial. A standard V-belt 97, functionally andoperatively connects the pulley wheel 95 with the pulley wheel 90;thereby the motor 91 serves to drive, at a steady rate of about 18 rpm,the plate 45 through the train of pulleys 93, 94 and 95. The pulley 95is located roughly halfway between the walls 21 and 22 and between theopenings 39 and 38A.

A pump inlet liquid line 62 is operatively connected to the inlet ofpump 42. The pump 42 is operatively connected to the pump motor 63 anddriven thereby. The pump motor 63 is operatively connected to a switch77 therefor and through that switch to power source 18 via coincollector switch 72.

A fan 65 and its motor 64 are preferably located in electrical chamber35'of assembly 12. The motor is firmly fixed to and supported bybrackets 68; each such bracket is fixed to the walls 21 and 22. Anelectrical air heater coil 66 is located in a cylindrical heatingchamber 69 which has imperforate sidewalls, an open bottom with sidesthat act as a skirt for the fan and extends radially thereof, and anupper outlet duct 67 which operatively connects to the line 43 throughvalve 79A.

Placement of coins in a standard slot machine coin collector 70 andactuation of the collector actuate switch 72 of a sequence controlassembly 71. Switch 72 is operatively connected to power source 18. Thecoins collected go into the coin collector box 73; collection box 73 islocated in chamber 32 and reached through hole 37; the switch 72 is thusactuated by placement of a coin in the coin collector 70. The switch 72also includes a timer assembly. The timer assembly is operativelyconnected to an air control relay switch 78 which is operativelyattached to a relay 79 (powered by line 18) which controls the valve 79Ain the heater line 67 and opens it when the switch 78 is actuated;switch 78 also operates as a relay to then actuate the fan motor 64,which motor actuates the air fan 65 to draw up air through holes 89 inthe bottom floor and force it through the duct 67 and line 43.

The clarification assembly 51*comprises a vertically spaced series oflaterally overlapping lipped clarification plates 52, 53, 54, 55 and 56each with a smooth imperforate flat top surfacezeach such plate hasthree fixed edges and a free edge: one front edge is fixed to wall 22,the other, rear, edge is fixed to wall 21: one side edge if fixed towall 23 or to wall 27 and the free edge, as right-hand free edge 50 ofplate 52, extends between walls 21 and 22 and is located between walls23 and 27. The right-hand edge of plate 52 extends past the left-handfree edge of plate 53, the free left-hand edge of plate 53 extends toleft of the right-hand free edge of plate 54; the lefthand free edge ofplate 55 and extends to the left of the righthand free edge of plate 54and to the left of the right-hand free edge of plate 56.A sump 57 islocated below plates 52-56 and walls 23, 27 and walls 24 and 26. Aheater coil 58 and a thermostat sensor 59 are located therein and aresupported on wall 27. The thermostat sensor is operatively connected tothe thermostat control 60. The control 60 is operatively connected to astandard electrical relay 61 and relay 61 is connected to the powersource 18 and to the coil 58.

A flexible watertight seal 99 surrounds the shaft 96 and is securelyconnected with the top of plate 47, it permits that the plate 47 maymove upward and downward about the pin 107 provided in the right endthereof which permits the left end of plate 47 to pivot up and downdepending upon the weight of water thereon and actuate a valve 62A inline 62 to decrease flow therethrough as weight of liquid on plate 47increases. Shaft 96 moves in a slot elongated from left to right asshown in FIG. 4 in the otherwise imperforate plate 47 so that thegeometrical relationships between the pulley 93, 94, 95 and 90 remainunchanged notwithstanding movement up and down of the left end 109 ofthe plate 47. Top plate locator assembly 110 comprises axially rotatablerigid flat bottomed imperforate cover plate 46, a rigid horizontal barhandle 111, a shaft 112, a sleeve 113 for the shaft 112, a spring 115, aspring base 116, a brace 117 with a foot 119 and brace upright 118.

The shaft 112 is a rigid cylindrical shaft, the handle 111 is a rigidbar and is firmly attached at the center thereof to the top of the shaft112 and forms a T-shape therewith. The sleeve 113 is firmly located incover 36 by a bracket plate 113A. The interior of the sleeve 113 has asmooth sliding fit around the shaft 112. A helical compression spring115 is wound around the shaft 112 and extends from the base 116 to thebottom of the cover 36. A base 116 is fixed to top of plate 46 and tobottom of shaft 112; it forms a seat for the spring 115 and provides forcontinuous and even compression of the spring 115 between the top of therotating plate 46 and the bottom of the plate 36. A rigid L-shaped arm218 extends horizontally from top of portion 118. Base 119 is rigidlyand firmly fixed to the top of cover 36. The top of the arm 218 isconcave upward and the shaft 112 is located a lesser distance from endof arm 218 than the distance from the center of the shaft 112 to oneend, as 114, of the handle 111. Accordingly, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4,in the stage of operation where the cover 36 is raised, one end, as 114,of the handle 111 stably rests in a concave recess in 218 atop ofupright 118. This location of the handle 111 is effected by compressingthe spring 115 by drawing the handle 111 away from the base 36: thisraises the plate 46 from any filter as 16 in chamber 31 and moves theplate 46 close to the cover 36. This structure also permits the cover 36with plate 46 supported thereon to be closed without any contact betweenthe plate 46 and the filter element 16 in chamber 31 until after thecover 36 is in position with the longitudinal axis of shaft 112 coaxialwith annular filter 16 and latch 40 closed as in FIG. 3. Handle 111 maybe then released from its support by the upright 118 and the plate 46 bethen, by the force of the spring 115, brought into a firm yet yieldablecontact with the upper edge of the filter 16, as shown in FIG. 2.

In operation of the apparatus 10 liquid 19 from sump 57 moves upwardsfrom the line 43 into the chamber 199 formed by the filter wall 121,annular support rings 123 and 125 the top surface of wall 45 and thebottom surface of wall 46.

The liquid 19, which is under pressure and passes the pump 42 andthrough the hole 44 in the plate 45 is restrained from escape past theedges of rings 123 and 125 and through wall 121 of the filter 116. Thedownward pressure of the plate 46 on filter 16 is provided by thecompressive force of the spring 115. The compression of the springeffects a force between the cover 36 in the plate 46 of about 10 lbs.the result of this is that, with a 7 inches inside diameter of filter 16there are about 38.6 square inches of water under the plate 46. Thisamounts to only about one-fourth of a pound per square inch gaugepressure against the flow of the water from the line 43 to raise theplate 46: nevertheless this small resistance to flow plus the rate offlow into chamber 199 does provide that the water entering through thehole 44 fills all portions of the space 199 including the interiorrecess spaces as 166, 167, 168 and 169 offilter 16.

In normal operation of the apparatus the plates 45 and 46 and handle 111rotate at a steady 18 rpm, accordingly all of the lateral projections ofthe filter 16, such as the junctions of wall 146 and 156 and thejunctions of wall 147 and 157 and the junction of walls 148 and 158 moveat a steady velocity past the nozzles 141, 142, 143 and 144 of which 141is shown in the diagrammatic enlarged view (NOT TO SCALE) in theenlarged portion 58 of FIG. 5. As shown in FIG. 5 the left edge of thespray of water which first contacts the filter wall 121 strikes one wallsuch as 156; it clears away from the surface 186 some of the debriscorresponding to 181 in the space 175. As the filter surface 121 movesin the clockwise direction shown by the arrow 194 in FIG. 5 the waterspray is then able to strike the debris accumulated at the bottom orinner portion of the same exterior recess space (176); this action isshown for the striking of accumulation 188 in the cavity 177; as thewater which reaches portion 188 passes along the outer portion of thesurface 157 it provides several vortices in the region 188 and suchvortices clean out some of the dirt there remaining; there is however acutting jet action and not a direct'compression against accumulations as189 and surface 148. As the filter moves to the next position, (from theposition shown as 177 in FIG. to the position shown for cavity 178 inFIG. 5,) the right-hand portion 197 of the spray 196 contacts theremaining accumulation of dirt 192 on the outer portion of the wall 149and the force of the spray is then also obliquely applied to 192 and 149at that time and position. The full force of the liquid pressure in eachnozzle as 141 is confined to a band only a total one-eighth inch wideand perhaps 2 inches high: each such stream strikes the surface of wall121 as above described with considerable scrubbing force, the stream ofwater from each nozzle as 141 impinges upon the outer surfaces of wall121 and the debris located there with the full force of the velocityresulting from the immediate relief of the pressure in the noule, withthe transformation of that pressure energy (about 15 lbs. per squareinch gauge) against the portions as 155, 146, 156, 147, 157, 148, 158,149 and 159 of the wall 121 of the filter. While such walls areconstructed to let air pass rapidly therethrough for the efficientoperation of an internal combustion engine to which that filter isattached, the water in chamber 199, being a freely flowing fluid,contacts and supports all the interior surfaces of interior recesschambers as 165, 166, 167, 168 and 169 and all the like surfacesnotwithstanding that these recess chambers are thin and elongated, thusthe force of each jet as 141 is largely met by the mechanical support ofthe portion of the thin wall 121 provided by the liquid 19 in thechamber 199 and the recesses continuous therewith and the pressurethereof due to the restriction to free flow out of chamber 31 providedby spring 115 and plates 45 and 46 in rings 123 and 125. Liquid 19provides thereby a strong scrubbing action on the portion of the wall ofthe recess as 177 and the dirt accumulations there located withoutdamage to the wall 121 for a period of 3 minutes.

The detergent used in liquid 19 is TlDE" (registered trademark ofProctor & Gamble) the composition thereof is, generally, an anionicsynthetic detergent and, more particularly, a mixture of water-solublesalts of sulfuric acid reaction products of alkyl and substituted alkylcompounds, containing eight to 18 carbon atoms in the alkyl groupcharacterized by their high solubility in water, described in U.S. Pat.Nos. 2,712,529; 2,618,608 and 2,396,278. It is used in liquid 19 in theamount of one-half cup per 30 gallons of water; Weight of one-half cup=l.5 ozs.=45 grams-5 percent.

The temperature of the water in sump 57 is kept at abou 6070A F., incold outdoor weather (with apparatus located out of doors warming ofliquid 19 is required). This amount and type and temperature ofdetergent is, because the detergent is intended for use in hot water ofat least 120F., and at usual concentration of one-half cup per gallonsof water, of limited detergent power; it produces for examplesubstantially no suds or foams. However, it does serve, as a jet, todislodge dirt and debris from exterior recess spaces as 175, 176, 177,178 and keeps such debris of filter l6 suspended in the turbulent liquidas at 188 and serves to carry such debris to the clarification chamber33. However, the dirt suspending power of such liquid is limited and, asthe suspension of debris and liquid reaches sump 57 the debris settlesout and the liquid is returned via pump 42 to chamber 31. Periodicallythe large sump discharge valve 200 at the bottom of sump chamber 57 maybe opened to discharge debris therefrom, and additional water added tochamber 33 via opening 38A.

In operation of the apparatus 10 to the to-be-treated filter as 16 isplaced in chamber 31 with the door 36 open to locate filter 16 thereinwith the central longitudinal axis of the filter 16 coaxial with thevertical axis of pipe 43 and the axes of rotation of plate 45, and plate46 and shaft 112.

The location of orifice 44 allows this to be done with adequate accuracyby visual observation in the standard apparatus described hereinaboveand in table I. The door 36 is then closed. A releasable spring latch 40in wall near edge of opening 39 engages the free edge of door 36 andholds it in position as shown in FlG. 3; the handle 111 is then pulledupward from door 36 turned and released from its engagement with therecess in the top of arm 218, which arm 218 is rigidly attached toportion 118 of brace 117. The spring 115 then urges the bottom of plate46 into contact with the top of the filter 16; the shaft 112 then beingcoaxial with the longitudinal axis of plate 46; line 18 is operativelyconnected to a source of nominal volt alternating current (usually -120V.). A coin is then placed into collector 70, and the coin collectoractivated by being pushed inward; the coin is collected and switch 72activates pump motor 63 and plate drive motor 91 as above described. Theliquid 19 from sump 57 is driven vigorously against the outer surface ofthe filter 16 and at an angle to those surfaces from the severalnozzles, as 141, 142, 143 and 144 while the liquid within chamber 19helps support the filter element walls against the action of such jets.The washing action of the liquid 19, at an angle to the surfaces onwhich the accumulations of dirt had grown, serves to dislodge theaccumulations without harm to the filter wall. This action is continuedautomatically for 3 minutes, then the timer in assembly 71 cuts off theconnection of power to motors 63 and 41. The rotation of plates 45 and46 at about 18 rpm. and the action of two to four jets as 141 and 142 oneach portion of the filter wall 121 most adjacent to each such jetserves to effeet a removal of debris from the exterior surface of wall121 of filter 16; also, there is some slight washing action of liquid 19to remove some small amount of accumulation from the pores of wall 121.However, the greatest amount of accumulation of clogging debris isremoved from the outer surface of the filter rather than from theinterior volume thereof.

Upon completion of the washing action in apparatus 10 at above 40 F.ambient air temperature the latch 40 is released and the filter 16removed from chamber 31. Most of the water in the chamber 199 and on theperipheral surface of wall 121 drains away along wall 29 to chamber 33.The thus washed filter is then replaced on the automobile from which itcame; operation of the engine of that automobile with the filter in itsnormal position for operation of the automobile therewith draws airthrough the filter wall and, as the engine operates and draws airthrough filter 16, water adherent to or carried by the filter 16 isevaporated and otherwise drawn away therefrom leaving a washed and driedair filter. The above description of operation applies where thetemperature of the air is above 40 F.

When the ambient air in the neighborhood of apparatus 10 is colder than40 F., the heater 66 and fan 65 are placed into operation by switch 78after the pump motor 63 and drive motor 91 are disconnected from powersource 18. The fan 65 and heater coil 66 operate for 2 minutes to dryout the filter and avoid icing" ofthe engine.

The usual geometry of location of the jets as 141144, at a distance fromthe axis of conduit line 43 that is greater than the radius of plates 45and 46 (about 7 inches in the particular embodiment 10) and the size ofthe usual filter (about 5 inches maximum outside radius) and the numberand spacing of folds or denticulations in the filter wall 121 (aboutoneeighth inches to one-half inch width between walls as and 146),provides that each of the liquid jets, as that shown issuing from nozzle141, strikes the wall 121 of the filter as 16 at angle from 0 to about amaximum of 15 for its full height (usually 1 A to 2 inches).

An annular wear plate 116A is provided between the top of spring 115 andbottom of door 36 to minimize effect of wear on door 36 of rotation ofplate 46, against which (plate 46) spring 115 bears and which rotatestogether with filter 16 and the plate 45 during the operation ofapparatus 10.

The TIDE composition used, above briefly described, also containsequestering agents, as calcium-sequestering phosphates which serve toprevent deposits of salts from hard water, used for liquid 19, fromdepositing on the surface of the filter wall 121 and remaining thereafter the cleansing treatment thereof as above described and also tobreak up and removes such similar salts that may develop on the filterwall 121.

By calcium-sequestering phosphates is meant water-soluble salts ofphosphoric acids which are poorer in water of constitution thanorthophosphoric acid, such as tetrasodium pyrophosphate, pentasodiumtriphosphate (sometimes referred to as tripolyphosphate), hexasodiumtetraphosphate," and hexasodium hexametaphosphate, as well as thevarious corresponding acid salts, such as disodium dihydrogenpyrophosphate, or the products of adding small amounts of free acid tothe completely neutralized salts. These salts are deemed capable ofrepressing calcium ions in aqueous solutions: hexasodium tetraphosphateand hexasodium hexametaphosphate are placed in quotation marks toindicate that the salts are so designated may be mixtures rather thanthe pure chemical compounds. The tetraphosphate" is that compound ormixture which is described in U.S. Pat. No. 2,031,827 and thehexametaphosphate is the glassy variety sometimes called Grahams saltwhich is described in U. S. Pat. No. 1,956,515.

The material (TIDE) also contains, as brought out in US. Pat. No.2,712,529, a corrosion inhibitor some 4 percent to 25 percent (by dryweight of the detergent) of solubilized silicate solids such as sodiumsilicate having a SiO,jNa O ratio of 1.8 to 2.6 to protect the interiorparts of the pump and other parts of assembly 10 and also to avoidcorrosion of the metal parts of a filter as 16.

The dimensions of filter 16 are only those of an exemplary filter, asthe size thereof varies from one user of apparatus 10 to the next.

Drainboard 47 is a rigid imperforate waterproof board, it extends from awatertight contact with the left edge of wall 29 downward and (as shownon FIGS. 1 and 3) leftward. It is provided with a flexible seal 47A thatjoins the rear edge of plate 47 in watertight fashion to wall 22 and ssimilar seal 47B that joins the front edge in watertight fashion to wall21. Board 47 is, in the preferred embodiment, of apparatus 10, pivotallysupported at its right end on a rigid pin or rod 107. Rod 107 extendsfrom wall 21 to wall 22 and is supported thereon. A rigid Z-shapedbracket 108 is firmly fixed to wall 27. An ear 206 is firmly fixed tothe bottom of board 47. A rigid rod 204, threaded at its upper end, ispivotally fixed to the ear 206. Rod 204 is operatively connect to andoperates adjustable valve 62A in line 62. Rod 204 passes through ahole-in control arm 212. The rod 204 operates the adjustable valve 62Ain line 62 to-c'lose it on downward motion or the rod 204. This occurswhen edge 109 of plate 47 moves too far down. The lower portion of rod204 is slidably supported in a bracket 208 that is supported in itsfront and rear in walls 21 and 22. A rigid pivot support rod 210 extendsfrom wall 21 to wall 22 and is supported thereon. A light rigid controlarm 212'is pivotally supported on rod 210 at its right end (as shown inFIG. 3) and on calibration spring 106 on its left end. Control arm 212has some substantial width, about 2 inches, and has a hole verticallytherethrough, through which the rod 204 passes. Spring 106 is slidablylocated in a light rigid support sleeve 209.

The height of the sleeve 109 is adjustably located on threads providedon the Z-shaped bracket 108. A lock nut 211 is attached to the upper,threaded portion or rod 204 and that nut is supported on arm 212 abovethe hole in the arm 212 and thereby adjusts and holds the height of theplate 47 relative to the arm 212.

Accordingly, on unduly heavy flow of water over plate 47 the inlet valve62A to pump 42 is choked and the rate of flow to chamber 199 from pump42 is reduced; the pressure on nozzles 141-144 is concurrently reduced.The sleeve 209 and nut 211 are adjustable to provide for such degree ofcompression as is desired in the spring 106 for any desired rate of flowthrough the valve 62A.

It is also within the scope of this invention that board 47 be firmlyfixed in a downward and leftward sloping position; then adjustmentcontrol valve 62A may be removed and a standard plug valve be used inits place. The bottom of line 62 extends downward into sump 47 and hasits inlet a foot from the bottom thereof. In this position the liquidthat is drawn off by line 62 is free of sediment that collects at thebottom of the sump. 57 and is also free of the matter that collects-atthe top of the liquor in the liquid reservoir or sump 57 within thehousing and frame assembly 12.

[t is within the scope of this invention that the process thereofhereinabove described be also performed by the apparatus 210 hereinabovedescribed be also performed by the apparatus 210 hereinbelow describedand dimensions of which are set out in table 11 herebelow.

The apparatus 210 comprises, in operative combination, a shell assembly212, a mechanism assembly 214 and a chamber assembly 215. An automobilecar filter, 216, is treated by mechanism 214 and releasably located inpart of the assembly 215. A power source 218 is operatively connected tothe mechanism assembly 214. Filter 216 is identical to filter l6hereinabove described in regard to apparatus 10 process and apparatus.

The housing or shell assembly 212 is generally a rectangular box, thewalls of which have openings and closures for the openings and chamberswithin the box. Assembly 212 comprises a rigid vertical rectangularfront flat wall 221, a rigid vertical rectangular flat rear wall, 222,parallel to and the same size as the front wall 221 with the controlpanel 228 included in the front wall area size, a rigid verticalrectangular flat exterior left wall 223, and a rigid vertical exteriorrectangular flat right wall 224, a flat rectangular top wall 225 and arigid floor 229. The walls are finnly jointed at their edges to form afirm shell and definitely attached to floor 226.

A wash chamber 231 of assembly 215 is located between and in partbounded by the walls 221, 222, 224 and 225. A

pump chamber 232 of assembly 215 is located below the floor 229 andbetween walls 221, 222, 224 and 255 and is bounded by such walls; thispump chamber has a pump therein. A liquid clarification chamber 233 ofassembly 215 is bounded by walls 252, 253, 254, 255 and 256. A rigidflat imperforate wash chamber door, 236, is located in a matchingopening 239 therefor in the top wall 225 and is hingedly affixed byhinges 230 at the rear side of that opening. A clarification chamberdoor 238 is hingedly located in a corresponding hole 238A therefor onthe top wall 225 and provides access to and closure of the chamber 233.

The mechanism assembly 214 comprises a wash assembly 241, aclarification assembly 251 and a controlassembly 271.

In operation of the apparatus 210 an air filter 216 is located in thewash chamber 231.

Wash assembly 241 is located in chambers 231 and 232 and comprises arotatable filter support and interior wash assembly 350 and a filtersupport drive and exterior wash assembly 352 and a pump 242, liquidconduits and nozzles, all cooperatively combined.

Wash chambers 231 comprises end wall371, rear wall 372, front wall 373,and floor 229 operatively connected to form,

with cover plate 236 and the supports for nozzles 341-344-and line 243,a sturdy watertight chamber open at one side to clarification chamber233.

Rotatable filter interior support and wash assembly 350 comprises line243, plate 245, journal 300, wash lines 281 and 282, nozzles as 341 and342 and centrifugal pump 242 with its rigid vertical outlet line 243.The outlet line 243 feeds into a hole 248 in the center of a rotatablecircular rigid flat-topped rotatable filter plate 245 which serves torotatably support the bottom of an annular air filter as 216 (216 is thesame structure as 16).

A drainboard 247 with a smooth fiat top surface is continuous with andextends from the left-hand (as shown in FIG. 7) edge of floor panel 229over the top of wall 255 and extends into the top, upper, portion ofclarification chamber 233.

The upper end of the line 243, which is a rigid pipe conduit firmlyattached to the horizontal floor panel 229. The pipe 243 continuesupward into a cylindrical bearing 300. The bearing 300 is formed of anouter cylindrical sleeve and race 301 and an inner cylindrical sleeveand race 302, sleeves 301 and 302 are coaxial with each other and withthe center of the line 243. Conventional roller bearings 303 are locatedbetween the sleeves and races 301 and 302; watertight annular coverplate 304 extends over the top of elements 301, 302 and 303 to surface244.

Line 243 from the pump 242 is provided with several branch lines as 281,282, 283 and 284; each branch line 281, 282, 283 and 284 has a nozzle341, 342, 343 and 344 respectively, at its discharge end. Each of thenozzles 341 and 343 is located in chamber 231 with its axis in a flathorizontal plane above surface 244 of plate 245 at equal heights andbelow top of filter 216 and radially of plate 245 and diametricallyopposite (180 apart) from each other. Each noule axis is directedhorizontally and centrally toward the upward projection of the centralvertical axis of line 243 with which axis the central longitudinal axisof the annular filter 216 is also coaxial when located between plate 245and cover 236.

Nozzles 341 and 342 are arranged so that their spray is I about 2 inchesto 4 inches high (i.e. about the same as the vertically measured heightof the filter which it usually treats) and 2 inches to 3 inches wide.Drive and wash assembly 352 comprises pump 242 and hydraulic lines 283and 284 and nozzles 343 and 344. Nozzle 343 is supported on bracketportion 291 of wall 373, nozzle 344 is firmly supported on bracketportion 292 of wall 372. Nozzles 343 and 344 discharge water in form ofcones with the longitudinal axes of the cones of discharge liquid in thesame fiat plane, which plane is halfway between the top surface 244 andbottom surface 246 of plate 245 and coplanar with vanes 321-8.

A pump inlet liquid line 262 is operatively connected to the inlet ofpump 242. The pump 242 is operatively connected to the pump motor 263and driven thereby. The pump motor 263 is operatively connected to aswitch 277 therefor and through that switch to power source 218 via coincollector switch 272.

A fan 265, like 65, and its motor as 64 may be located in the pumpchamber 232 of assembly 212. Such motor is firmly fixed to and supportedby floor 226. An electrical air heater coil as 66 is located in aheating chamber 269 identical to 69 and which has imperforate sidewalls,an open bottom with sides that act as a skirt for the fan and extendsradially thereof, and 267, an upper outlet duct (as 67) whichoperatively connects to the line 243 through valve as 279A (like 79A).

Placement of coins in a standard slot machine coin collector 270 andactuation of the collector actuate switch as 272 of a sequence controlassembly 271. Switch 272 is operatively connected to power source 218.The coins collected go into the coin collector box 273; collection box273 is located near chamber 233 and reached through hole 274, the switch272 is thus actuated by placement of a coin in the coin collector 2 70.The switch 272 also includes a timer assembly. The timer assembly isoperatively connected to an air control relay switch as 78 which isoperatively attached to a' relayas 279 (powered by 218) which controls avalve-279A in the heater line 67- and opens it when the switch 78 isactuated; switch .78 also" operates as a relay to then actuate thefanmotor as 64, which motor actuates the air fan as 65 to draw up airthrough holes (as 89) in the bottom floor 226 and force it through theduct 267 and line 243 to interior of filter 216.

The clarification assembly 251 comprises a front vertical wall 252, rearvertical wall 254, outer vertical wall 253, inner vertical wall 255, andbottom wall 256; these walls 252-256 are operatively combined into awatertight chamber 233. An outlet line 259 at the bottom of the tankprovide for its emptying (controlled by a valve 268) while the pumpinlet line 262 is connected to the wall 255 at a sufficiently elevatedheight to provide a sump 257 which provides an efficient settling zonein chamber 233 below such connection of line 262 to wall 255. Above 257,the interior of chamber 232 includes a vertically spaced series oflaterally overlapping lipped clarification plates (as 52, 53, 54, 55 and56 above described) each with a smooth imperforate flat top surface:each such plate has three fixed edges and a free edge: one front edge isfixed to wall 252, the other, rear edge is fixed to wall 254: one sideedge is fixed to wall 255 or to wall 253 and the free edge, (asright-hand free edge 50 of plate 52) extends between walls 252 and 254and is located between walls 253 and 255. The right-hand edge (as 50 ofplate as 52) extends over and to the right of the left-hand free edge ofplate 53, the free left-hand edge of plate 53 extends over and to leftof the right-hand free edge of plate 54; and left-hand free edge ofplate 55 extends under and to the left of the right-hand free edge ofplate 54 and over and to the left of the right-hand free edge of plate56. Sump 257 is located below those plates and a heater coil 258 and athermostat sensor as 59 are located therein and are supported on wall255. The thermostat sensor is operatively connected to a standardelectrical relay at 61 which is connected to the power source 218 and tothe coil 258.

The plate 245 comprises a rigid flat disc with a horizontal top surface244, a horizontal bottom surface 246, a plurality of narrow radial slots(311-318) and radially extending vanes 321-328; the plate 245 isrotatably supported on hearing 300. A tee 330 has a vertical portion 331that is operatively connected to line 243 and a horizontally extendingportion 332; nozzles 333 and 334 are supported on the lateral ends ofportion 332; each of nozzles 333 and 334 has a longitudinally extendingaxis and forms a spray of generally conical shape with a horizontallyextending axis. The axis of nozzle 333 and the axis of nozzle 334 lie inthe same straight line, coaxial with portion 332.

The upper surface 244 of the plate 245 is perforated by a group of equalsized and shaped, radially extending, radially equispaced slots 311-318.Each the slots, as 318, has a radial portion as 319 that extendsvertically completely through the plate 245 and a central sloped portion320 that slopes radially and downwardly from surface 244 to surface 246.

A concentric series of circular grooves 338, 335, 336, 337 facilitateand expedite locating cylindrical filters on the plate 245 coaxial withthe pipe 243 and the plate 245.

The pump motor 263 drives the pump 242 and water from pump 242 via line243 and tee 330 to form conical jets 329 and 339: these impinge upon theinterior surface of filter 216. A portion of each jet passes below thebottom filter wall and through the slots 311-318; a suction action isthereby actuated that holds the filter 216 against the plate 245.

The water from line 243 also passes to line 281 and noule 341 formingjet 361; to line 282 and nozzle 342 forming jet 362; to line 283 andnozzle 343 forming jet 363; and to line 234 and nozzle 344 and formingjet 364: jets 361 and 362 strike the exterior surface of the filter 216and act to cleanse it as above described for the jets or sprays 196 and197. Jets 363 and 364 strike the vanes as 321-328 and rotate filter 216on plate 245 about its central vertical axis at a rate of speedsufficiently high to withstand the pressure of the water applied theretoby the exterior jets 361 and 362. The jets 329 and 339 apply'water' tothe interior of the filter 216 that, by centrifugal force developed bythe very rapidly rotating plate 245, provide a centrifugal force on thewalls of the filter that is the equivalent of the effect of -the waterpressure provided in embodiment 10 forcing the filter wall radially to.resist the centrally directed stream or jets as 361 and 362.

In operation of the apparatus 210 liquid 19 from sump 257 moves upwardsfromthe line 243 into chamber 399 of filter 216 (corresponding to thechamber 199 formed by the filter wall 121, annular support rings 123 and125 in filter 16) above top surface of plate 245 as jets 329 and 339.

In the normal operation of the apparatus 210 plate 245 and filter 216thereon rotate at a steady 250 r.p.m.; accordingly all of the lateralprojections of the filter 216 (such as in filter 16, the junctions ofwall 146 and 156 and the junctions of walls 147 and 157 and the junctionof walls 148 and 158) move at a steady velocity past the nozzles 341 and342 wherein the action is as for 141 shown in the diagrammatic enlargedview (NOT TO SCALE) in the enlarged portion B of FIG. 5 and abovedescribed.

The full force of the liquid pressure in each nozzle as 341 is confinedto a band only 2 inches to 3 inches wide and perhaps 4 inches high: eachsuch stream strikes the surface of the filter wall as 121 as abovedescribed with considerable scrubbing force, the stream of water fromeach nozzle as 341 impinges upon the outer surfaces of wall 121 and thedebris located there with the full force of the velocity resulting fromthe immediate relief of the pressure in the nozzle, with thetransformation of that pressure energy (about lbs. per square inchgauge) against the portions (as 155, 146, 156, 147, 157, 148, 158, 149and 159) of the wall 121 of the filter. While such walls are constructedto let air pass rapidly therethrough for the efficient operation of aninternal combustion engine to which that filter is attached, the waterin the chamber 399 of filter 216, being a freely flowing fluid and ofconsiderable centrifugal force, contacts and supports all the interiorsurfaces of interior recess chambers (as 165, 166, 167, 168 and 169 offilter 16) and all the like surfaces notwithstanding that these recesschambers are thin and elongated, thus the force of each jet as 361 islargely met by the mechanical support of the portion of the thin wall as121 provided by the liquid as 19 in the chamber 399' and the recessescontinuous therewith and the pressure thereof due to the centrifugalforce applied to such liquid provided by the rapid rate of rotation ofthe plate 245. Liquid19 provides thereby a strong scrubbing action onthe exterior of the wall of each recess as 177 and the dirtaccumulations there located without damage to the wall 121 for the (3min.) operation period of apparatus 210.

The detergent used in liquid 19 in apparatus 210 is TIDE (registeredtrademark of Proctor and Gamble) the composition thereof is, generally,an anionic synthetic detergent and, more particularly, a mixture ofwater-soluble salts of sulfuric acid reaction products of alkyl andsubstituted alkyl compounds, containing eight to 18 carbon atoms in thealkyl group characterized by their high solubility in water, describedin U.S. Pat. Nos. 2,712,529; 2,618,608 and 2,396,278. It is used inliquid 19 in the amount of one-half cup per 30 gallons of water; weightof one-half cupv=l .5 ozs.=45 gramsfl percent.

The temperature of the water in sump 257 is kept at about -70A F., incold outdoor weather (with apparatus 21055 located out of doors warningof liquid 19 is required). The amount and type and temperature ofdetergent is, because the detergent is intended for use in hot water ofat least 120 F., and at usual concentration of one-half cup per 15gallons of water, of limited detergent power; it produces for examplesubstantially not suds or foam. However, it does serve, as a jet, todislodge dirt and debris from exterior recess spaces in filter 216 (as175, 176, 177, 178) and keeps such debris of filter 216 suspended in theturbulent liquid as at 188 and serves to carry such debris to theclarification chamber 233. However, the dirt suspending power of suchliquid is limited and, as the suspension of debris and liquid reachessump 257 the debris settles out and the liquid is returned via pump 242to chamber 231. Periodically the large sump discharge valve 268. at thebottom of sump chamber 257 is opened to discharge debris therefrom, andadditional water added to chamber 233 via opening 238;

In operation of the apparatus 210, the to-be-treated filter as 216 isplaced in chamber 231 with the door 236 open to locate filter 216therein with the central longitudinal axis of the filter 216 coaxialwith the vertical axis of pipe 243 and the axis of rotation plate 245.

The location of rings 335-8 allows this to be done with adequateaccuracy by visual observation in the standard apparatus describedhereinabove and in table. 11. The door 236 is then closed. A releasablespring latch 240 in wall 221 near edge of opening 239 engages the freeedge of door 236 and holds it in closed position. Source 218 isoperatively connected to a source of nominal llO-volt alternatingcurrent (usually 1 15-120 v.). A coin is then placed into collector 270,and the coin collector activated by being pushed inward; the coin iscollected and switch 272 activates pump motor 263. The liquid 19 fromsump 257 is driven vigorously against the outer surface of the filter 26and at angle to those surfaces from nozzle 341 and 342 through jets 361and 362 while the liquid within chamber 399 of filter 216 helps-supportthe filter element walls against the action of such jets. The washingaction of the liquid jets 361, 362, 329, 339, dislodges the filter dirtwithout harm to the filter wall. This action is continued automaticallyfor 3 minutes, then the timer in assembly 271 cuts off the connection ofpower to motor 263. The rotation of plate 245 at about 250 r.p.m. andthe action of two to four jets as 361 and 362 on each portion of thefilter wall (as 121) most adjacent to each nozzle, as 341 and 342,effects removal of debris from the exterior surface of such wall, as121, of'filter 216; also there is some slight washingaction of liquid 19to remove some small amount of accumulation through powers of wall 121.However, the greater amount of accumulation of clogging debris isremoved from the outer surface of the filter rather than through theinterior thereof by the centrifugal pressure.

Upon completion of the washing action in apparatus 210 at above 40 F.ambient air temperature the latch 240 is released and the filter 216 isremoved from chambers 231. Most of the water in the chamber 399 and onthe peripheral surface of wall 121 drains along board 247 to chamber233. The thus washed filter is then replaced on the automobile fromwhich it came; operation of the engine of that automobile with thefilter in its normal position for operation of the automobile therewithdraws air through the filter wall and, as the engine operates and drawsair through filter 216, water adherent to or carried by the filter 216is evaporated andotherwise drawn away therefrom leaving a washed anddried air filter. The

above description of operation applies where the temperature of the airis above 40 F.

When the ambient air in the neighborhood of apparatus 210 is colder than40 F., the heater and fan in 269 are placed into operation by switch as78 after pump motor 263 is disconnected from power source 218. Such fan(265) and heater (as 66) operate for 2 minutes to dry out the filter andavoid icing of the engine.

The usual geometry of location of the jets as 341 and 342 is, as shownto scale in FIG. 11, at a (1 1 inch) distance from the axis of conduitline 243 that is greater than the radius of plate 245 (about 7 rinchesin the particular embodiment 210) and the size of the usual filter(about 5 inches maximum outside radius) and the number and spacing offolds or denticulations in the filter wall as 121 (about one-eight inchto one-half inch width between walls as and 146) provides-that each ofthe liquid jets, as that shown issuing from nozzle 34], strikes the wall121 of the filter 216 at angle from 0 to about a maximum of 15 for itsfull height usually 1 xfito 2 inches).

The TIDE composition used, above briefly described, also containssequestering agents, as calcium-sequestering phosphates which serve toprevent deposits of salts from hard water, used for liquid 19, fromdepositing on the surface of the filter wall 121 and remaining thereafter'the cleansing treatment thereof as above described for apparatus210 and also to break up and remove such similar salts that may developon the filter wall 121.

The dimensions of filter 216 are only those of an exemplary filter, asthe size thereof varies from one user of apparatus 210 to the next.

Drainboard 247 is a rigid imperforate waterproof board; it extends froma watertight contact with the left edge of wall 229 downward and (asshown on H63. 7 and 8) leftward. It is provided with a flexible seal247A that joins the rear edge of plate 247 in watertight fashion to wall372 and a similar seal 2478 that joins the front edge in watertightfashion to wall 373. Board 247 may be, as in embodiment of apparatus210, pivotally supported at its right end on a rigid pin or rod as 107and accordingly, as above described for board 47, on unduly heavy flowof water over plate 247 the inlet valves 262A to pump 242 is choked andthe rate of flow to chamber 399 from pump 242 is reduced and thepressure on nozzles 341-344 concurrently reduced.

It is also within the scope of this invention that board 247 be firmly,as shown in FIGS. 7-10) fixed in a downward and leftward slopingposition and a standard plug valve be used in the place of valve 262A.

The bottom of line 262 extends downward from sump 47 and has its inlet afoot from the bottom thereof. In this position the liquid that is drawnoff by line 262 is free of sediment that collects at the bottom of thesump 257 and is also free of the matter than collects at the top of theliquor in the liquid reservoir or sump 257.

While the apparatuses l and 210 are disclosed as intended for cleansingof air intake filters as 16 the apparatuses l0 and 210 and theiroperation are also intended as applicable for similarly cleansingautomotive and other internal combustion engine exhaust filters of likestructure and permitting the reuse of such filters and thereby makingthe use of such exhaust filters a less expensive use then when suchfilters are only used once and then discarded. Such treatment of suchfilters by apparatuses 10 and 210 improves the operating efficiency ofsuch filters and the ecological acceptability of internal combustionengine automotive exhaust gases passing therethrough.

Although, in accordance with the provisions of the patent statutes,particular presently preferred and exemplary embodiments of thisinvention have been described in the best mode in which it is nowcontemplated applying such principles, it will be understood that theoperations and constructions shown and described are illustrative andthat my invention is not limited thereto.

lclaim:

1. Apparatus for cleansing filters comprising, in operative combination,a housing and frame assembly, a mechanism assembly and a power source,

a. the housing and frame assembly comprising an enclosure with a roofthereon, and a liquid reservoir means located within said enclosure, thehousing and frame assembly enclosing the mechanism assembly therein,

b. said mechanism assembly comprising a wash assembly, a liquidclarification assembly and a control assembly, said wash assemblycomprising a rotatable filter support and wash chamber,

said rotatable filter support comprising a rotatable filter supportplate within said wash chamber and rotatable about an axis of rotationthereof, a plate jet liquid inlet means extending through said filtersupport plate,

a liquid pump means with a discharge outlet thereof connected to saidplate jet liquid inlet means, a pump liquid inlet means to said pumpmeans, said pump liquid inlet means connected to said liquid reservoirmeans, a motor operatively connected to said pump means, a first nozzlelocated in said enclosure peripherally to and above said filter supportplate, the outlet of said nozzle directed toward the axis of rotation ofsaid rotatable filter support plate, the outlet of said pump beingconnected to the inlet of said nozzle,

a second nozzle located above said filter support plate, said secondnozzle directed away from the axis of rotation of said rotatable filtersupport plate, the outlet of a pump bein connected to the inlet o f saidsecond nozzle a clan ication assembly comprising a baffled liquidclarification chamber located below said nozzles and above said liquidreservoir means,

power control means supported on said housing and frame assembly andoperatively connected to said motor connected to said pump means,

said wash assembly comprising, in said wash chamber, said rotatablefilter support plate and projecting vane means projecting radially fromsaid rotatable filter support plate, and plate drive nozzles supportedon said housing and frame assembly, said plate drive nozzles locatedperipherally of said filter support plate within said wash chamber, theoutlet of each of said plate drive nozzles being directed toward saidvane means and the inlet of each of said plate drive nozzles beingconnected to the outlet of said pump.

2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each of said first and second nozzlesare one of a plurality of such nozzles and said nozzles are radiallyequispaced about the axis of said filter support plate and connected tothe same pump.

3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein said power control means on saidhousing and frame assembly comprises, in operative connection, a coincollector assembly and a timer and a switch assembly, said coincollector assembly controlling said timer and switch assembly, saidswitch assembly controlling said motor for said pump and controlled bysaid t|mer.

1. Apparatus for cleansing filters comprising, in operative combination,a housing and frame assembly, a mechanism assembly and a power source,a. the housing and frame assembly comprising an enclosure with a roofthereon, and a liquid reservoir means located wiThin said enclosure, thehousing and frame assembly enclosing the mechanism assembly therein, b.said mechanism assembly comprising a wash assembly, a liquidclarification assembly and a control assembly, said wash assemblycomprising a rotatable filter support and wash chamber, said rotatablefilter support comprising a rotatable filter support plate within saidwash chamber and rotatable about an axis of rotation thereof, a platejet liquid inlet means extending through said filter support plate, aliquid pump means with a discharge outlet thereof connected to saidplate jet liquid inlet means, a pump liquid inlet means to said pumpmeans, said pump liquid inlet means connected to said liquid reservoirmeans, a motor operatively connected to said pump means, a first nozzlelocated in said enclosure peripherally to and above said filter supportplate, the outlet of said nozzle directed toward the axis of rotation ofsaid rotatable filter support plate, the outlet of said pump beingconnected to the inlet of said nozzle, a second nozzle located abovesaid filter support plate, said second nozzle directed away from theaxis of rotation of said rotatable filter support plate, the outlet of apump being connected to the inlet of said second nozzle, a clarificationassembly comprising a baffled liquid clarification chamber located belowsaid nozzles and above said liquid reservoir means, power control meanssupported on said housing and frame assembly and operatively connectedto said motor connected to said pump means, said wash assemblycomprising, in said wash chamber, said rotatable filter support plateand projecting vane means projecting radially from said rotatable filtersupport plate, and plate drive nozzles supported on said housing andframe assembly, said plate drive nozzles located peripherally of saidfilter support plate within said wash chamber, the outlet of each ofsaid plate drive nozzles being directed toward said vane means and theinlet of each of said plate drive nozzles being connected to the outletof said pump.
 2. Apparatus as in claim 1 wherein each of said first andsecond nozzles are one of a plurality of such nozzles and said nozzlesare radially equispaced about the axis of said filter support plate andconnected to the same pump.
 3. Apparatus as in claim 2 wherein saidpower control means on said housing and frame assembly comprises, inoperative connection, a coin collector assembly and a timer and a switchassembly, said coin collector assembly controlling said timer and switchassembly, said switch assembly controlling said motor for said pump andcontrolled by said timer.